The Panther’s success led Grumman to design a swept wing derivative and propose it to the Navy. The new design retained the fuselage of the Panther but included a swept wing and tail. The Navy awarded Grumman a contract for this new aircraft on 2 March 1951. It made its first flight on 20 September and was named the Cougar but retained the F9F designation. The Cougar was first delivered to the Navy in November 1952 and remained in squadron until February 1960. The Navy accepted a total of 1,985 Cougars with the designations F9F-6, F9F-7 and F9F-8.
General characteristics
* Crew: 1 * Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.9 m) * Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.5 m) * Height: 12 ft 3 in (3.7 m) * Wing area: 337 ft² (31.3 m²) * Empty weight: 11,866 lb (5,382 kg) * Loaded weight: 20,098 lb (9,116 kg) * Max takeoff weight: 24,763 lb (11,232 kg) * Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney J48-P-8A turbojet, 8,500 lbf (38 kN) with water injection
Performance
* Maximum speed: 647 mph (1,041 km/h) * Range: 1,312 mi (2,111 km) * Service ceiling: 42,000 ft (12,800 m) * Rate of climb: 5,750 ft/min (29.2 m/s) * Wing loading: 61 lb/ft² (298 kg/m²)
Armament
* Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M2 cannon, 190 rounds per gun * Rockets: 6 × 5 in (127 mm) rockets * Missiles: 4× AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles * Bombs: 2 × 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
Fond memories of those 1950 Movie newsreels with the upbeat marching band music even for a near catastrophe like you’re watching a high school parade going by. Oh, here comes LT Lopez ready to trap aboard the USS Essex. Wow folks, he crashes, does a few 180’s down the flight deck, goes flying off the bow in this 10,000 lb piece of iron doing 120 mph, lands in the ocean just missed by this huge carrier, then “Cool Hand” LT Lopez steps out on the wing, puts on his Ray Ban glasses, lights up a “smoke” waiting for the helo. Just another routine day of flying around the boat…back aboard, he waves to the crew, dust’s himself off, takes two APC’s finishes the game of Acey Deucey down in the Wardroom, grabs a cup of Navy Joe and was back in the air an hour later. Where do we get such men?
And let's get one thing straight. There's a big difference between a pilot and an aviator. One is a technician; the other is an artist in love with flight. — E. B. Jeppesen
